Decisions on every disability claim Social Security considers are made using the same type of evaluation, known as the five-step sequential evaluation. This process is mentioned in every decision issued by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) so it is important, to better understand the disability determination process, to know exactly what the 5-step sequential evaluation process is.
Step One: Work Activity
Is the claimant engaging in substantial gainful activity (SGA)?
If yes, the claimant is not disabled.
If no, the sequential evaluation continues.
For an explanation of SGA evaluation, see:
DI 24001.010 Effect of SGA on Disability Status
DI 24001.015 SGA and the Sequential Evaluation Process
DI 24001.025 Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Earnings Guidelines and Evaluation of Earnings and Income
Step Two: Severe Impairments?
Does the claimant have a medically determinable impairment (MDI) (or combination of MDIs) that is both severe and meets the duration requirement?
If no, the claimant is not disabled; and
If yes, sequential evaluation continues.
For detailed explanations of these considerations, see:
DI 24505.001 Individual Must Have a Medically Determinable Severe Impairment
DI 24505.005 Evaluation of Medical Impairments that are Not Severe
DI 24515.065A Need to establish the existence of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment
DI 25505.030C Severity and the duration requirement
Step Three: Does The Impairment Meet A Listing?
Does the claimant have an impairment(s) that meets a listing, or is medically equal to a listing in appendix 1, and meets the duration requirement?
If yes, the claimant is disabled; and
If no, the sequential evaluation continues.
For a detailed explanation of how to determine whether impairment severity meets or medically equals a listing, see:
DI 24505.015 Finding Disability Based on the Listing of Impairments
DI 34001.001 Listing of Impairments – Purpose, Parts, and Use
NOTE: Before the sequential evaluation continues, we determine the claimant’s residual functional capacity (RFC). For RFC assessment instructions, see Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) in subchapter DI 24510.000.
Step Four: Does The Impairment Prevent Past Relevant Work?
When comparing the RFC with the physical and mental demands of the claimant’s PRW, we must consider two questions:
Does the claimant retain the capacity to perform any PRW as he or she actually performed it?
Does the claimant retain the capacity to perform any PRW as generally performed in the national economy?
If the answer to either question is yes, the claimant is not disabled.
If the answer to both questions is no, the sequential evaluation continues.
For a detailed explanation of how we consider whether a claimant has the residual functional capacity to do PRW, see Capacity to Do Past Relevant Work in subchapter DI 25005.000.
NOTE: Consider the Special Medical Vocational Profiles after evaluating step four and before evaluating step five. If one of the special medical-vocational profiles applies, the claimant is disabled and the sequential evaluation ends. For a detailed explanation of this policy, see Special Medical-Vocational Profiles in section DI 25010.001.
Step 5: Can Other Work Be Performed?
Does the claimant have the ability to make an adjustment to any other work, considering the claimant’s RFC, age, education, and work experience?
If yes, the claimant is not disabled.
If no, the claimant is disabled.
For detailed explanations of how we evaluate step five, see:
DI 25015.000 Ability to Perform Other Work
DI 25020.000 Functional Limitations and Their Effects on Ranges of Work
DI 25025.000 Medical-Vocational Guidelines
